Category Archives: Attorney

It seems as if nearly every week, a major business or technology publication carries an article about migrating processes to the cloud. In many circumstances, this makes sense for a range of very good reasons. But for users of ERP software systems, migrating a very complicated and sophisticated management tool with countless “moving parts” to…

On May 16 and 17, Taft Stettinius & Hollister partner Marcus Harris spoke at a two-day conference on avoiding problems with SAP S/4HANA ERP development, integration and implementation. The Taft law firm co-sponsored the event with Third Stage Consulting. Because ERP digital transformations can become difficult, the conference looked at how and why system integrators…

It seems that California opened the floodgates on privacy concerns when it passed a law with strict requirements on businesses that collect, use and sell data about people. Privacy and related laws have become hot talking points for politicians, business leaders, attorneys like me who do privacy and data security work for clients, and ordinary…

A new report on the projected growth of the ERP market through 2025 estimates that sales will increase by 7-percent annually and that the market will expand by some $41-billion over that period. The study, done by Texas-based Research N Report and released in late January, 2019, may be a bit optimistic. But even if…

Keeping the installation and launch of an ERP software system on track is a tough, complicated process. There are lots of ways an ERP software implementation project can be derailed, as I’ve written about numerous times at this blog and elsewhere. One of the ways to help keep the implementation moving ahead smoothly is for…

It seems like hardly a month goes by without news of another major ERP train wreck. This time, it is a German company that ran into problems: Haribo, a candy maker best known for Gummy Bears. When its new SAP-built ERP system went live late last year, there were massive production and delivery problems. The…

A new warning from the Dept. of Homeland Security is alerting users of Oracle and SAP ERP systems that they are vulnerable to hacks, data breaches and the theft of valuable information in attacks launched by offshore actors – both private and state-sponsored. Based on analyses from security firms Digital Shadows and Onapsis following breaches…

Far too many ERP implementations go off track, ending up in court. While many of the disputes could be avoided if vendors and their sales people didn’t promise the Earth, the sun, and the Moon to users to make a sale, the fact is this happens. When digital transformations fail, users expect to be compensated…

The new issue of Fleet Equipment magazine has me explaining why an “End User License Agreement” must be negotiated to determine who owns data collected by a service provider. I noted that these agreements, commonly known by the acronym EULA, is typically complex and one-sided in a way that does not give the customer much…

Sometimes, advances in technology can take away even as they give. Recently, I wrote about the enhancements to ERP software systems that might come from Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things during 2019. While I stand by my fearless November forecast, nevertheless AI and IoT also pose security risks to ERP users. Those considering…